Want to outperform the market? Freewyld Foundry’s Revenue & Pricing Management service is driving an 18% performance lift for $1M+ STR operators, even in down markets. If you’re managing 15+ listings and want a free pricing audit, apply here: apply here
In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Kaye Putnam (Head of Marketing at Freewyld) is joined by Eric Moeller (CEO of Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry) to unpack the real reason most short-term rental operators are leaving serious money on the table: weak or nonexistent revenue management.
If pricing your listings still feels like a guessing game, or if you’re relying on Airbnb’s Smart Pricing, this episode is a wake-up call. Eric and Kaye outline the three paths STR CEOs can take to finally master revenue strategy.
You’ll hear:
- How to know if revenue management is giving you energy or draining it
- Why dynamic pricing tools are only the beginning
- The three strategic paths: DIY, hire in-house, or outsource
- How to stop guessing and start managing revenue with intent
- Why having great branding and operations isn’t enough if your pricing lags behind
- The most common pricing mistake hosts make when offering direct bookings
We also talk about:
- What it really costs to hire an in-house revenue manager (and when it makes sense)
- Why Freewyld built the RPM program to serve the top 1 percent of STR hosts
- How the right revenue partner can help you outperform your market
- Why it’s critical to find someone who understands short-term rental pricing, not just hotel or airline models
🎯 Mentioned in the Episode:
- Freewyld Foundry RPM Program – Revenue Management for $1M+ STR Portfolios
- PriceLabs, Wheelhouse, Beyond – Dynamic pricing tools
- Cashflow Mastery – Training to level up pricing skills
- Free audit link: Apply for a custom revenue report
🔥 Eric’s CEO-Level Revenue Strategy Framework:
1. Do it yourself – Learn it, love it, and level up your skills with training from industry-specific educators.
2. Hire in-house – If you are managing $2M to $5M in bookings or plan to scale fast, bring in a full-time revenue pro.
3. Partner with experts – Work with a high-touch team like Freewyld Foundry’s RPM if you’re already generating over $1M in revenue and want to grow with support.
📍 Ready to take action?
Apply for Freewyld’s revenue audit and get a no-obligation review of your entire pricing strategy. If you are managing 15+ listings and over $1M in bookings, this free audit will reveal where you’re leaving money behind, and what to do about it.
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Kaye Putnam:
Welcome back to another episode of Get Paid for Your Pad. I’m Kaye Putnam, Head of Marketing and Branding at Freewyld, stepping in for Jasper Ribbers. I’m here with Eric Moeller, CEO of Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry. Today, we’re talking about a topic that might sound boring at first but is actually one of the most powerful levers for your short-term rental business: revenue management.
Eric Moeller:
It’s funny because I never thought I would be this excited about revenue management. After nearly 10 years in the short-term rental space, I used to think it was boring. But now, I see the results of good revenue strategy and they are incredible. Many STR operators have great branding, strong operations, and solid tech, yet the CEO is still handling pricing. Unless they love numbers, they are likely leaving money on the table. It’s time to bring revenue management into the spotlight.
Kaye:
And we’re not just saying that because we offer a service. Our 30+ clients are all professional hosts making over a million dollars annually, and we see daily how much revenue is being left behind due to lack of attention or expertise in this area.
Eric:
Today, we want to talk about revenue management from a CEO mindset. Not the deep-dive data or nerdy number stuff, we’ll leave that to Jasper. This is about how to make strategic decisions so that revenue management becomes a strength, not a gap, in your business.
Kaye:
Exactly. So how does a host know if they’re leaving money on the table?
Eric:
First, every host should be using a dynamic pricing tool. Never rely on Airbnb smart pricing. We recommend tools like PriceLabs, Wheelhouse, or Beyond. But having a tool isn’t enough. Ask yourself: is pricing a skillset of yours? Does it energize you or drain you? Before Jasper built our RPM system, I only touched our pricing tools once or twice a month without a clear strategy. That was a red flag.
We talked to a potential client in Canada, adding 10 to 20 units a month. Beautiful portfolio, great brand, great market. But he was only checking pricing once or twice a month with Wheelhouse. That’s a clear sign he’s leaving money on the table.
Kaye:
Yes, and I’m sure a lot of listeners are seeing themselves in this scenario. Maybe everything is going well, but your revenue isn’t what it should be compared to similar listings. That could mean you’re ignoring one of the most important parts of your business.
Eric:
Absolutely. I saw someone on LinkedIn the other day sharing a direct booking strategy, but when I asked about revenue, they said their site is always the cheapest. That’s not a strategy. If you’re guessing or reacting to bookings instead of using real data, you’re probably leaving money behind.
Kaye:
So what are the solutions? What can a CEO actually do?
Eric:
There are three paths:
1. DIY with education: If revenue management energizes you, level up your skills. Take a course like Cash Flow Mastery. Treat this as a critical business skill. It’s okay if you want to keep this on your desk, but it has to be a daily focus.
2. Hire in-house: This works if you’re doing $2 million or more and plan to scale quickly. Finding someone qualified in STR-specific revenue management is tough. These professionals deserve high salaries and require deep training. Don’t assign them other roles like housekeeping or ops. They need to be fully dedicated.
3. Partner with a third-party expert: That’s where Freewyld Foundry’s RPM service comes in. We focus on top 1% operators doing $1M+ in revenue. Our team leads revenue management, while the operator handles operations. There are also other services out there for those with smaller portfolios. Just be careful. Many services simply use virtual assistants to punch buttons without real strategy.
Kaye:
And for those unsure if they’re leaving money on the table, we offer a no-obligation audit. If you’re managing 15+ listings and doing over $1M, we’ll evaluate your pricing strategy and give clear recommendations.
Eric:
Exactly. We see clients thriving even in down markets. One just saw a 66% revenue increase. This conversation is important because the narrative around STRs is too negative. We believe in brand-forward companies with great operations and strong revenue strategies. If you don’t have this figured out, you’re losing money. But once you get it right, you can outperform the market.
Kaye:
Thanks so much for sharing, Eric. Next week, we’ll dive into our four non-negotiables for a successful STR brand. Until then, if anyone wants to connect, you can find Eric and me on LinkedIn.
Eric:
Let’s connect there. Thanks for tuning in. See you in the next episode.
Keep Listening
Why Airbnb Suspends Listings (And How to Avoid It)
Airbnb is getting stricter, and one bad review can cost you thousands. In this episode, Jasper Ribbers explains how Airbnb suspensions really work, how to prevent them, and what to do if your listing gets flagged or removed.
Scale Your STR Business Right: The 7 Strata Method
Eric breaks down the 7 Strata of Strategy from Scaling Up and shows how STR operators can use these strategic planning questions to get clarity on goals, ideal clients, and profitable growth.
Castle on Airbnb? Building a Profitable STR Business in Ohio
In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Eric Moeller sits down with Dave Stokley and Mark from Host Pros, a property management company that scaled from 2 Airbnb units in 2017 to 77 listings across Ohio while maintaining a 4.8+ guest rating and proving that Airbnb is far from dead. If you are an STR operator who wants to build a scalable business through unreasonable hospitality, understand how to dominate a single market instead of chasing hot destinations, and learn why small experiential details drive premium rates, this episode is a must listen. Dave and Mark share their 10-year partnership journey, the wizard-themed castle that changed their business, and why focus beats expansion every time. We don't want to have competition. Get your free personalized revenue report at FreewyldFoundry.com/report